Conveying installation for transporting bulk materials

Abstract

A conveying installation for transporting bulk materials has three pairs of carrying cables disposed one above the other. A continuous conveying belt can be moved along the central pair and the lower pair of carrying cables between loading and unloading stations, where it is guided over deflecting drums. Spaced-apart carrying frames hold the carrying cables. The installation includes a maintenance vehicle, which can be displaced along the two upper carrying cables and has on each side a maintenance platform, located laterally outside the carrying cables. The maintenance vehicle further has on at least one of the two sides a carrying framework, on which is located at least one drive subassembly for moving the maintenance vehicle. The drive subassembly is located laterally outside the carrying cables and beneath the undercarriage of the maintenance vehicle.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A conveying installation for transporting bulk material, the conveying installation comprising:
 three pairs of carrying cables disposed substantially vertically above one another, said pairs of carrying cables including lower carrying cables, central carrying cables, and upper carrying cables; 
 an endless conveying belt movably disposed along said central carrying cables and said lower carrying cables, between a loading station and an unloading station and guided over deflecting drums in the loading and unloading stations; 
 carrying frames disposed at a spacing distance from one another in a longitudinal direction of the conveying installation and connecting said carrying cables to one another; 
 a maintenance vehicle for displacement along said upper carrying cables, said maintenance vehicle having an undercarriage and at least one maintenance platform on each of two sides thereof disposed laterally outside said carrying cables, and said maintenance vehicle further having at least one carrying framework on at least one of the two sides, and at least one drive subassembly on said at least one carrying framework for moving said maintenance vehicle, said drive subassembly on said at least one carrying framework being located laterally outside said carrying cables and beneath said undercarriage of the maintenance vehicle. 
 
     
     
       2. The conveying installation according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one carrying framework for at least one drive subassembly is located alongside one of said maintenance platforms, as seen in a direction of movement of said maintenance vehicle. 
     
     
       3. The conveying installation according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one carrying framework for said at least one drive subassembly is located in a lower region of a respective said maintenance platform. 
     
     
       4. The conveying installation according to  claim 2 , wherein said at least one carrying framework for at least one drive subassembly is located alongside a maintenance platform, and at a distance therefrom, as seen in a direction of movement of said maintenance vehicle. 
     
     
       5. The conveying installation according to  claim 2 , wherein said maintenance platforms and said at least one carrying framework for a drive subassembly, in upper regions thereof, are mounted on said undercarriage of said maintenance vehicle such that they can be pivoted about axes that are oriented substantially horizontally and transversely relative to said carrying cables. 
     
     
       6. The conveying installation according to  claim 5 , wherein each said at least one maintenance platform, located on each side of said maintenance vehicle, and said at least one carrying framework for said drive subassembly are spaced apart laterally from one another and connected to one another in an articulated manner via at least one strut. 
     
     
       7. The conveying installation according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one drive subassembly is configured for driving at least one drive wheel rotatably mounted on said maintenance vehicle for interaction with a drive cable extending along said carrying cables, for moving said maintenance vehicle along the conveying installation. 
     
     
       8. The conveying installation according to  claim 7 , wherein said drive cable wraps around at least one drive wheel that is coupled to said drive subassembly. 
     
     
       9. The conveying installation according to  claim 7 , which comprises a plurality of drive wheels to be driven by said at least one drive subassembly, wherein said drive cable wraps around said drive wheels. 
     
     
       10. The conveying installation according to  claim 1 , wherein said conveying belt is configured with lateral carrying rollers disposed to roll on said two central carrying cables and said two lower carrying cables, and wherein said maintenance vehicle is configured with running rollers disposed to roll on said two upper carrying cables. 
     
     
       11. The conveying installation according to  claim 10 , wherein said running rollers of said maintenance vehicle are configured with a derailment guard. 
     
     
       12. The conveying installation according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one drive subassembly is formed by an internal combustion engine for driving an oil pump, wherein said oil pump drives at least one oil motor that is coupled for rotation to said at least one drive wheel. 
     
     
       13. The conveying installation according to  claim 12 , wherein said maintenance vehicle includes at least one carrying bracket extending in a direction of movement of said maintenance vehicle and carrying said at least one oil motor. 
     
     
       14. The conveying installation according to  claim 13 , which comprises a support projecting transversely from said oil motor and having a remote end fastened on said carrying bracket, and wherein said at least one oil motor is secured against rotation relative to said carrying bracket by said support. 
     
     
       15. A conveying installation for transporting bulk material, the conveying installation comprising:
 three pairs of carrying cables disposed substantially vertically above one another, said pairs of carrying cables including lower carrying cables, central carrying cables, and upper carrying cables; 
 an endless conveying belt movably disposed along said central carrying cables and said lower carrying cables, between a loading station and an unloading station and guided over deflecting drums in the loading and unloading stations; 
 carrying frames disposed at a spacing distance from one another in a longitudinal direction of the conveying installation and connecting said carrying cables to one another; and 
 a maintenance vehicle supported on said upper carrying cables and configured for displacement along said upper carrying cables and next to said endless conveying belt, said maintenance vehicle having:
 an undercarriage laterally outside said carrying cables on each side of said endless conveying belt; 
 at least one maintenance platform supported on said undercarriage; 
 a drive subassembly configured for moving said maintenance vehicle along said carrying cables and next to said endless conveying belt, said drive subassembly being located laterally outside said carrying cables and beneath said undercarriage of the maintenance vehicle.